One of New Zealand’s most accomplished football referees, Les Coffman, has died in Auckland, aged 95.

Coffman served the sport he loved as a referee, a coach and an assessor, and as an inspiration to many in his 58-year career as an official.

Obituary courtesy Friends of Football 

His contribution was widely recognised, earning him a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in the 1993 New Year’s Honours list for his service to the community.

He was granted Life Member status by NZ Football, the Auckland Football Association and Northern Region Football.

In 2003, he was named football’s Personality of the Year by the NZ Football Media Association, joining such luminaries and past winners as John Adshead, Kevin Fallon, Wynton Rufer and Charlie Dempsey.

In 2011, Auckland-based Coffman received a Harbour Sport AUT Sport Acknowledgement Award for his outstanding contribution to refereeing.

Such was his influence on future generations of referees, Auckland Football Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award was named after him, to be presented to future recipients.

Coffman’s introduction to refereeing came about by chance while serving with the Royal Air Force in his native England in 1953.

Watching a match between the air force and the army, the 24-year-old Coffman began offering advice to the referee.

“I was giving the referee a bit of stick with a few others, and one of our superiors overheard and called us over and told us we should step up if we thought we could do better,” Coffman recalled.

“He took our registration cards and said we could pick them up in the morning after we were signed up for a referee course.”

Coffman passed the course and emigrated to New Zealand in 1957, arriving as a qualified official.

Within a fortnight of his arrival, he was refereeing games.

By 1966, he was the man in the middle for the Chatham Cup final between Miramar Rangers and Western.

In 1968, he refereed the match between English champions Manchester United and Auckland, before 26,000 spectators at Carlaw Park.

Though the match generated huge income for the Auckland Football Association, Coffman submitted his handwritten referee’s report, writing ‘NIL’ in the section for claiming match expenses.

At a 2022 reunion for members of the Auckland and New Zealand teams who played against the touring Manchester United team, Friends of Football presented Coffman with a framed copy of his 1968 match report, as an acknowledgement of his service to the sport.

READ MORE: Referee’s handwritten match report presented back to him 55 years after final whistle >>>>

In 1969, FIFA added Coffman to their international panel, and he spent a decade officiating internationally.

A highlight was refereeing a FIFA World Cup play-off game in Korea in 1973, before a crowd of more than 50,000.

His travels introduced him to many of football’s biggest names, including FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

“He noticed my FIFA badge was a bit worn out and he told me he’d send me a new one,” Coffman remembered later.

“I didn’t think anything of it, but soon afterwards, I received three new badges in the post.”

Coffman became a familiar presence in the first national league, refereeing many games at Auckland’s Newmarket Park in the 1970s, until he officiated his last national league game, at Allen Hill Stadium in 1979.

Players liked and respected him, even when events required Coffman to take a stern approach.

He showed a red card to Eastern Suburbs’ Sam Malcolmson in one match at Newmarket Park, forcing the All White to make a long walk to the dressing rooms, much to his chagrin and to the jeers of an Easter Monday crowd in excess of 6,000.

Main photo: Referee Les Coffman shows the red card to Eastern Suburbs’ Sam Malcolmson. Photo credit: Dave Barker.

In 2015, Malcolmson and Coffman were reunited at the public park that replaced the demolished football ground, greeting each other as old friends.

To the amusement of others at the reunion BBQ, they re-enacted the sending-off with Coffman giving Malcolmson his marching orders again.

READ MORE: Memories of Newmarket Park, Auckland’s former ‘Home of Football’ >>>>

Getting along with people was crucial on the pitch, Coffman explained in a 2011 interview with the North Shore Times.

“Refereeing is about man management,” he said.

“We were always told when we started that you have 22 players when you start the match and our job is to bring 22 players back off the pitch after the game.

“One of the things I’ve noticed is the yellow card is probably misused a bit these days.

“It seems to have been cheapened a little, and they seem to be flashed left, right and centre when perhaps a word will do.

“The field is still the same size, the game is played in the same way, and there are still tackles from behind.”

While football provided Coffman with a lifetime of memories and achievements, his retirement was spent playing lawn bowls into his 90s and enjoying time with his family that included nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In 2024, he and his wife Kath celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary.

Leslie William Coffman (1929 — 2024)

The following notice was published in the NZ Herald on November 25, 2024:

COFFMAN, Leslie William (Les). QSM, RAF No. 4012475 Les has blown his final whistle. On 22 November 2024, at age 95 years, Les passed away peacefully at Auckland Hospital and is now in the arms of his Lord. Dearly loved husband of Kath for nearly 75 years, much loved father and father-in-law of Paul, Julie and Larry, Grant and Shea; adored Poppa of Mitch, Bek, Alex, Eden, Brooke, Shea, Grace, Hannah and Emily; and proud great-grandfather of six, with more on the way. Though he will be deeply missed, his legacy of love, laughter and faith will continue to inspire those who had the privilege to know him. A celebration of Les’s life will be held at Long Bay Baptist Church, 282 Glenvar Road, Long Bay, at 1pm Thursday 28 November 2024. All are welcome. Rest in peace, Les. Your legacy will live on forever.

Article added: Friday 06 December 2024